Rope clamp



fifi-; 'f' "fr Sept. 2,1924; 1,501,316 J. T. KMPER ET AL ROPE CLAMP 'Filed April 20. 1921 was lull

Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JOHN 'll KELMIPER AND CHARLES W. KEMPER, 0F ALAMEDA., CALIFORNA,

ROPE CLAMP.

Application filed April 20, 1921,

To all whom z5 may cof/wem:

Be it known that we, JOHN T, Knrrrnn and CHARLES VJ. KnMrnn, citizens of the United States, residing at Alameda, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful improvements in Rope Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a rope or cable clamp, and especially to that type of clamp where the cables lie parallel and in contact with each other, and where a clamping action is obtained by one or more wedges.

One of the objects of the present invention is to generally improve and simplify cable clamps of the character described, and especially to provide a substantial easily applied clamp whereby cable ends may be effectively secured and locked against longitudinal movement with relation to each other and the clamp.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cable clamp employing one or more wedges adapted to directly engage the cables, and which are so proportioned and of such length that bruising, cutting or other damage to the cables is positively prevented; further to provide a clamp which is selfloclring and automatically increases its clamping action in proportion to the pull or strain exerteda Another object of the invention is to pro vide means for securing the wedges against removal when the clamp is not in use; also to provide means for securing the wedges against releasing or retrograde movement when in a clamping position; further to maintain the wedges in an elevated position at all times where they will not interfere with the free insertion or removal of the cable ends.

,Another object of the invention is to provide a cable clamp which is so constructed that the cables may be inserted through the sides of the clamp, thus providing a clamp which is universally applicable.

Further objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a central vertical longitudinal section through the clamp showing the cables and the wedges in position.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the clamp..

, bers 4central passage 6. A pair of ledges 11i Serial No. 46253197.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the clamp showing a slot formed in the side thereof, through which the cables may be inserted.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, A indicates in general the clamp forniH ing the subject matter of the present invention. The clamp consists of a pair of side walls 2 and 3, which are tied together by a rounded top section 4 and a rounded bottoni section 5. Extending longitudinally through the clamp is a central passage 6, through which a pair of cable ends such. as indicated at 7 and 8 are adapted to be passed. ,Also formed within the clamp or between the side and end walls thereof are a pair of wedge receiving chambers 9 and l0. These chambers communicate with the central pas sage 6 and the wedges ll and l2 insertable therein are adapted to directly engage the opposite sides of the cables 7 and 8 as shown in Fig. l. The outer rounded ends of the wedge receiving chambers are inclined as shown at 13n @ne face of each wedge is also inclined as shown, and a downward movement is thus imparted to each wedge when inserted, said downward movement being employed for the purpose of gripping the cables and securing the same against longitudinal movement with relation to the clam proper, The wedge receiving cham ave a width slightly greater than the in this manner formed, which prevents the.

wedges from dropping down into the central f securing the wedge against retrograde movement when in clamping position, weeinploy a pair of bolts such as indicated at l5. These bolts pass through perforated lugs 1G formed at each end of the clamp and through openings 17 formed at the inner ends of the respective wedge receiving chambers. Each wedge has a central opening formed therein which is threaded to receive the bolts and turning movement imparted to the bolts will therefore advance or retract the wedges with relation to their respective chambers and the cables 7 and 8.

ln actual operation when employing a clamp such as shown in Figs. l and 2, it is only necessary to turn the bolts in such a direction as to force the wedges outwardly with relation to their chambers.- This permits free insertion of the cable ends7 .and 8 through.V either end of the clamp as both ends are open. When the cable is inserted it is necessary to draw up the wedges. This is usually accomplished by striking the projecting ends of the respective wedges with a hammer and driving them tightly into place,

iof

`or-.it maybe accomplished by `applying a wrench to the head of each bolt and turning the same in a direction which will pull the vwedge inwardly with relation to their chamvEbers. If the wedges are driven in by hammer action yit is also preferable to apply a 1v.wrench to tighten up the bolts after the ywedges have bolts will then secure the Wedges against. y retrograde movement and may 1n fact serve een driven into place, asV the the efunction of further tightening the wedges In the present instance-we employ ywedges of considerable-length and as the y.wedges are wider than the diameter of the cables 7 and 8, see Fig. 2, it is obvious that .allargewbearing surface is formed between each wedge andthe respective cables. This surface is preferably rounded as shown at U18 to conform with the contour of the cable -fandritmay be corrugated or roughened if desired, to form a better bite or grip.

- any instance it can bey seen that such a large g gripping area is presented that a secure holdl 1- is formed and ydanger. of bruising or cutting f `lthe cables is entirely-obviated. In fact a :f1-number of Vexperiments have proven that when a cable spliced or secured as' here shown-issubjected to a'severe pull or a pull --Hsuflicient to part the cable it has been found -=same,i thus prov-ing thatthe wedo'es in noiin every instance that the cables never part within the clamp, but always exterior of the instance damage or weaken the cab es. Y 1

In the type of clamp employed inFigs; l

yand y2 it is necessary to thread the cables yithrough one end or another of the clamp when applying the same. This is more or less -dificult under certain conditions, and par- ?ticularly when handling fairly heavy cables. *"To'obviate this diiliculty we have provided a/form of clamp such as shown in Fig. 3.

'i'This clamp is identical to the clamp shown 4vin Figs. l and 2, with the exception that one 1ofthe side walls is slotted from end to endl Iyas indicated at 2O to form a longitudinal. fopening through which the cables maybe f inserted lthrough the side of the clamp. This materially facilitates the-application of the clamp under certain conditions.

, "'lVhile the clamp illustrated in both Figs. l and 3 employs two wedges and bolts, it is ='obvious that a clamp might -be constructed v employing a singlewedge and bolt, and further `.it should be obvious that various changes in design, proportion, etc., might be resorted towithin the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I-Iaving thus described our invention, what we claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A rope clamp comprising a housing having a passageway formed therein and extending therethrough for the recept-ion of a pair of parallel contacting cables, a wedge receiving chamber also formed inthe housing andconimu'nicating with .thel cable passage, a wedge insertable therein and directly yengageable with one of the cables, thellarge end of the wedge extending exterior of the chamber so that it may be struck by a hammerand driven into the chamber, means'- for securing the-wedge against end-wise removal, and a track-way within the wedge `chamber limiting movement of the `wedge toward the cable. f

- 2. A-cable clamp comprising interspaced side sections and integral top land bottom sections, a central passage formed therein and extending therethrough, a pair of openended, longitudinally extending ltapering passages formed between the top and'bottom sections and -in communication with acentral passage, the apexes of said taper-ing passages extending toward each other,- a-wedge member insertable ineach tapering passage and directly engageable with cables extending through the cable passage, guideways rformed in the sides of theclampto prevent the wedges fromentering the cable passage,

f and a bolt having threaded engagement with each wedge to limit longitudinal movement thereof with relation to the.l tapering lpas- *i sages.

.A cable clamp comprising a'f-housing having a cable channel formed therein, said channel extending from end jto end` of the l casingfand being centrally disposedwith relation thereto, a wedge chamber formed at eachV end of the housing and at opposite sides thereof, each wedge chamber communicatingl with the cable passage and each wedge chamber being open at its voppositeend, a lug formed on each end of the housing and vat opposite. sides thereof, said lugs being leach end of the housingv and atopposite-sides thereof, each `wedge chamber communicating with the cable passage and eachwedge Vchamber being open at its opposite end, a lug formed on each end of the housing and at opposite sides thereof, said lugs being perforated and being in alignment with the open ended Wedge receiving chambers, a Wedge insertible in each chamber, a threaded passageway formed in each Wedge, and a bolt for each Wedge, said bolts being insertible through the perforated lugs and adapt` d to be received by the respective threaded passages in the Wedges, said Wedge receiving chambers and the Wedges received thereby being Wider than the cable passage to form guide ledges for the wedges Which Will limit the movement of the Wedges toward the cables.

5. A cable clamp comprising a housing having a cable channel formed therein, said channel extending from end to end of the using and being centrally disposed with relation thereto, a Wedge chamber formed at each end of the housing and at opposite sides thereof, each Wedge chamber communicating With the cable passage and each Wedge chamber being open at its opposite end, a Wedge insertible in each chamber, and a pair of bolts carried by the clamp, one in each side thereof and connected With the respective Wedges to exert a pull thereon.

6. A rope clamp comprising a housing having a passage-Way formed therein and extending therethrough for the reception of a pair of parallel contacting cables, a Wedge receiving chamber also formed in the hou's` ing and communicating With the cable passage, a Wedge insertible therein and directly engageable with one of the cables, the large end of the Wedge extending exterior of the chamber so that it may be struck by a hammer and driven into the chamber, and a bolt carried by the housing and having threaded engagement with the Wedge to exert a pull thereon,

JOHN Ts KEMPER CHARLES Wc KEMPER. 

